Painted Rock Petroglyph Site And Campground

When we arrived at 7pm, there was no one else. Later couple of another campers arrived. Someone played guitar and it was really nice to listen with full moon lighting. Cons: No service for T-mobile and no lights in restrooms.

If you're seeking a secluded escape under a vast, star-studded sky, then look no further than Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground! 

This hidden gem deserves a glowing 5-star review for its unique charm and abundance of off-the-beaten-path adventures. 

Pros Galore: 

Off-the-Grid Oasis: Nestled amidst the desert landscape, this campground offers a true escape from the hustle and bustle. 

Spacious Freedom: Spread out and enjoy the vastness with massive campsites, perfect for relaxing and soaking in the serenity. 

Tranquil Escape: The lack of crowds creates a peaceful and uncrowded atmosphere, ideal for those seeking solitude. 

Dry Camper's Delight: Embrace the simplicity of dry camping and experience the true essence of self-reliance under the desert sun. 

Stargazer's Paradise: With minimal light pollution, prepare to be dazzled by the spectacular night sky. Witness a dazzling display of stars, planets, and even the Milky Way on a clear night. 

Off-Roading Playground: Dust off your UTV(side-by-side) and explore the surrounding desert terrain. The area offers plenty of exciting trails for off-road enthusiasts. Treasure 

Hunters Unite: Test your skills and embark on a geocaching adventure. Search for hidden treasures scattered throughout the campground and surrounding area. 

Friendly Faces: The welcoming camp hosts are a bonus, adding to the overall positive experience. 

A Note: Be prepared for the lack of amenities like showers and laundry facilities. Pack accordingly and embrace the rustic charm of this remote desert escape. Painted Rock Petroglyph Campground is a hidden gem for those seeking a unique and unforgettable camping experience. If you crave adventure, tranquility, and starry nights, this is the place for you! I highly recommend it and can't wait to return for another adventure under the vast desert sky.

I was not expecting such a beautiful place in the desert. A great place to overnight. Easy paved access until the park and then gravel in the park. Unfortunately, you need to reserve online as there is no way to pay at the park. I recommend stopping at a rest stop on I8 before you drive here as the cellphone reception is very poor. Finally, I do NOT recommend site 32 as it is not a pull through, but a small pull off next to the loop road where you park very close parallel to the road.

We stopped here for an overnight on our way back from San Diego. We did book it online at the last minute while driving on interstate 8, but what we found is a hidden jem and we are already planning on coming back.

It is boondock camping so don’t expect to find water or electric hookups, but it is quiet , the sites are big, and there is lots of room without worrying about obstacles even if pulling in in the dark.

New rules. No walk ins allowed. Nice open place, very clean and tidy. Bad customer service in that there’s no warning signs along the 11 miles saying only reservations.

Beautiful and quit stop. Close to Gila Bend. There is a great paved road to this remote spot. Every spot has a table and a fire pit.

Established campground, we were able to make reservations. Extremely quiet, posted generator rules which everyone respected. No host. There is a trash dumpster here, that isthe only service. Many available spots.

Great dispersed campground, large campsites well spread apart, clean and quiet with dark nights and lots of stars 

Being from New Mexico, the few petroglyphs are a big yawn, especially given the amount of defacement and graffiti. But if you're looking for large, fairly separated, easy-in, easy-out RVing or tenting – cheap – this is the place. I arrived about 4:30am and waited in the entrance parking area until the hosts got up and around. They were very friendly and helpful. The fees seem to be inconsistently documented ... the sign on the entrance map says $8 to overnight, then there's another sign that adds $2 for a day fee. But the host only asked me for $4, which included a 50% discount for a senior America the Beautiful pass. Some of the sites can be reserved, but most are first come, and there's no real difference in desirability.

The sites are HUGE compared to the few other campgrounds I've stayed at. They vary in size and usable space, but they do have concrete benches/seats and a fire pit. There are two restrooms at the entrance (one M, one W), plus at the far end there's a one-hole  vault.

The reviews that comment on the lack of shade have obviously been there on a day like I was there ... this is early February. The day I arrived and the morning I left there was a combined total of ZERO clouds ever in the sky. How brutal is the sun? The air temp during the afternoon was in the mid-upper 60s; a temp gauge I brought recorded 91 in my tent sitting on a table near the corner with the two-sides both getting direct sunlight all day. I put it in the middle of the floor and it dropped to 83. When the sun set it was probably low 60s, but dropped to 37 when I got up at 6:30a to check it. This is the place for an awning or anything that makes shade.

BLM Painted Rocks Petroglyphs Campground. 26 miles west from Gila Bend. Very large campground about a third of sites can be reserved online at recreation.gov. Sites are very cheap only $8 / $4 senior rate. However there is NO WATER and no RV dump. Cell service on Verizon and ATT are excellent, but TMobile is poor extended. Vault toilets, tables, fire rings and dumpsters. Bring firewood from Gila Bend at Chevron Station. Camp host onsite is very friendly and the petroglyphs site is walking distance. Ebikes are very useful in this campground as it is very large and spread out from the two vault toilets! Note that there is NOT a 14d limit to camp here, will let you figure it out. And UPS and FedEx will deliver and the camp host will keep your packages at their site for you to pick up.

Only 4 stars due to no potable water available or would have given 5 stars.

Well spaced fire ring and table some nice hiking in area. quit and only 4 bucks with American the beautiful pass

Dispersed camping on BLM land. 60 level spots with picnic table and fire ring. Very quiet, very clean. $8.00/ night unless you have a federal parks pass )senior pass?) Then $4.00. The night starscape is indescribable!

This was a great spot! Very clean and well maintained areas. The restroom was clean and the pathways were also kept well. There isn’t much to do but it is very beautiful and felt safe!

This campground is located about 12 miles off the interstate with easy paved access all the way to the campground. The campground is very well maintained and clean. There are covered picnic areas and group camping area. The fee is$8.00 a night, but can be discounted with national park access pass. Other than the short path around the painted rock exhibit, there wasn’t much to do in the surrounding area, but if your looking for a nice retreat/getaway for dry camping, this is the perfect place for it. The sites are very large and spaced apart with picnic tables and fire rings. There are some ADA accessible with paved area under both.

Spent the night here on Dec. 20, 2020. Nice basic BLM camp ground. Clean pit toilets, but only two of them for the 60 camp sites. Mostly level sites, all gravel. Tables and fire ring at every site. Cool pile of rocks with Petroglyphs. Lots of history and nice informative displays. No services as far as water, power or dump station. Nice sunsets, and trails to hike. Bring your own water.

Located about 20 minutes off the 8, this site was mostly empty when I stayed. There are ample sites, firepits, pit toilets, and picnic tables. However, the bathrooms are spaced super far apart and are just simple pit toilets with hand sanitizer. Make sure to bring all your water and supplies, there aren't any stores very close and no water onsite. That being said, it was amazing to be so close to the petroglyphs for so cheap. Site was $8, or $6 if you have an Adventurepass and includes entrance to the site. Not much in the way of wildlife that I noticed around here.

This isn't the greatest campsite in the world, more of a glorified rest stop with a painted-rock exhibit. I got there late at night traveling from Texas to California and it was pretty easy to find. There are restrooms, dumpsters, and picnic tables.

Don't expect much from this place as it is funded by the honor system, but the solitude is nice and it makes for a decent stop to break up your road trip.